Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-06-16
A FORTUNATE CHANCE.

To say thai Pruduce Pringle disliked
the sterner sex is saying very little;
she held them in utter detestation, in
diyidually and collectively.
According to tradition, this was
owing to some bitter wrong inflicted
upon her heart when it was young and
tender. But however this may be, the
antipathy aforementioned was too
real to be mistaken.
For over thirty years no mans foot
had desecrated her dwelling Even
the old man who sawed her wood and
did odd jobs about the house received
his pay standing under the kitchen
window, Miss Prudence dropping the
amount into his hand with averted
eyes and an audible sniffie, expressive
of her disgust at this unavoidable con-
tact with the detested sex.
Miss Pringle's family consisted of
herself, an elderly female domestic,
and her niece Ruth. She had taken
Ruth, when a child, with the avowed
determination of making her as in
veterate a man-hater as herself. And
in case she succeeded in her laudable
design, it was hcr intention to leave
her the bulk of her property not
otherwise, as she often assured Cousin
Jonas, the next heir-at-law.
Jonas Quimby was a stiff, sour, dis
agreeable old bachelor, for whom Ruth
had particular dislike, on account of
the pleasant way he had of snubbing
and lecturing her whenever they met.
He had remained single in the hope
of eventually inheriting his Cousins
property, knowing her aversion to
matrimony, and therefore regarded
Ruths adoption by her aunt in the
light of u personal grievance.
But he took great comfort from Miss
Pringlcs repeated assurances. for he
knew that young girls take as natur-
ally to love as flowers take to dew and
sunshine.
Every evening Ruth was catechised
after the following fashion.
Each man on the face of the earth
is false-hearted and treacherOus?
Eyes, aunt, was Ruth's dutiful re-
spouse.
ESPECIALLY young men?'
Eyes, aunt.
''And you must never have anything
10 do with them in any way or shape?"
Il never will, aunt.
WhereupOn Ruth was dismissed to
her chamber, with q grim smile of
approval.
But Miss Pringle did not trust en-
tirely to precept; Ruth was kept strict
~ from al contact with the outer
world, never being allowed to 90 in
the street without either herself or her
"a Mt ,l,rC1chl 70 Of t.l nd
defence.
And with such formidable guard,
bold. indeed, was the youth who ven
tured upon d second admiring glance
at Ruth's pretty face; for pretty it was
in spite of the ugly bonnets she was
forced to wear.
But the little blind god laughs at all
such precautions.
1t happened that Miss Pringle was
very fond of strawberries, so, as soon
as they were ripe, she sent Ruth down
to the meadow behind the house to
gather some for tea, strictly charging
her to '1ook and speak to no man.
Now it curiously enough happened
that Mr.. Edgar Haven, who caught, a
glimpse of Ruth tripping down tke
lane, was suddenly reminded of a.
similar wish expressed by his mother,
and animated by filial desire to
crafty it, seized a basket and pro-
seeded in the same direction.
Now Edgar knew his young neigh
Dor by name and sight, and politely
accosting her, offered to show her
where the berries were much more
plentiful than where she was picking.
Startled by his unexpected appearance.
Ruth's first impulse was to drop her
basket and run; but his look and tone
were so gentle, his smiles so winning,
and his eyes so beautiful; and then it
would have been so rudei
So she not only stayed, but let him
take her where the ground was red
with the ripe and luscious fruit, and
even accepted his proffered assistance
in filling her basket.
And then they began to talk, Edgar
drawing her out with SO much tact
that Ruth began to feel quite at ease
with him, though she was still some
what shy of the chances Of respectful
admiration that the young man direct
ed towards her blushing face.
So, when they separated, doubts be-
gan to stir the gentle heart of Ruth as
to whether young men We're such
dreadful creatures after all, or, if they
were, if Edgar Haven was not an eX-
ception to the general rule.
Miss Pringle praised the quantity
and fineness of the berries; but Ruth
never mentioned who helped her gath
er them. If she had, we doubt whether
the virtuous spinster would have suf-
fered one of them to enter her mouth.
Every day Ruth went down to the
meadow to gather strawberries, and,
curiously enough. Edgar Haven was
either there or followed soon after.
He always returned empty handed,
but with his heart full of the soft blue
eyes into which he had gazed, and the
sweet voice to which he had listened